Geeking Out Over The 2018 Kia Stinger – The Work Hard, Play Hard Sports Car

Last week marked the introduction of the 2018 Kia Stinger to national press, and I’ve never been more excited about checking out a car. The Stinger isn’t just a game changer for Kia, but also for car enthusiasts and consumers. Its affordable price point paired with a remarkably powerful engine (2.0-liter twin-scroll turbocharged four-cylinder Theta II) makes it a sports sedan that is head-turning – regardless of whether or not you’re a “car person”.

I’ve never driven a car like the Kia Stinger, and after spending an afternoon with the Stinger GT driving through the Angeles National Forest and up to Six Flags Magic Mountain for a special course (to truly test out the 0 to 60mph in 4.7 seconds as well as the handling) – I feel like a different person. It brought out a confidence in me that was always there, but not something I feel like I’ve ever really projected. Simply put, it’s an empowering car.

My motto in life is “Work Hard. Play Hard. Make It Happen.” If you want to live your dream, you have to work hard for it. No one else is going to do it for you. Put in the effort, and reward yourself along the way for the hard work. It’s important to remember to play – to enjoy life and make time for yourself and recharge yourself so you can continue the hard work. I’m not sure there has ever been a car that more perfectly exhibits this. Drive it to your meetings during the day and take it out for fun in the evenings. Whether it’s opening that sunroof and rolling down the windows as you feel the heart-pounding power surrounding you or it’s sitting in complete comfort while dealing with city traffic on the way to an event, it’s not only a fun buy – it’s a smart buy – especially for city living in style. And it’s remarkably affordable starting at only $31,900.

Take a look at my experience last week with the Stinger below in my latest Tales of Emma episode!

Geek Girl Emma Loggins’ Kia Stinger Experience

Kia is so confident with the Stinger, that they set up a course for us to test drive comparable cars on the same track as the Stinger. I got the chance to drive the Audi A5 and A7, BMW 440i Gran Coupe, Porsche Panamera, and Infiniti Q509. My take away? The Stinger GT outperformed everyone of these vehicles with acceleration and handling with the exception of one – the Audi A7 – which I felt like was on the same level at the Stinger GT. But the difference is that the Stinger GT is around $30,000 less than the Audi A7. And that’s the real point, that the Stinger is on par with cars more than twice its price point – with a more attractive exterior and interior.

And that’s one of the elements that really struck me, the minimalistic and intuitive console design. I felt like I was on the inside of a jet cockpit – yet I knew without effort where to find the all the premium amenities.

Want to know more? Check out the video below!

Here’s the full breakdown on pricing for the 2018 Kia Stinger:

Stinger starts at $31,900

Stinger Premium starts at $37,1002

GT starts at $38,3502

GT1 starts at $43,2502

GT2 starts at $49,2002

All-wheel drive: $2,200

Destination: $900

So how does it stack up to the competition? Here’s the breakdown.

For me and my lifestyle, the Kia Stinger is without question a great fit for me. Getting me to and from my meetings during the day, and getting me to the movie premieres, after parties and dinner events in the evening – all in style.

A huge thank you to Kia for this experience! It was absolutely invigorating and inspiring.

Kia provided me with an all-expense trip to LA to attend the press conference for the 2018 Kia Stinger and the opportunity to test drive the car. No other compensation was exchanged. All opinions above are my own.

Emma LogginsEmma Loggins is the Editor in Chief of FanBolt. As an internationally recognized "Geek Girl", Emma updates daily on the latest entertainment news, her opinions on current happenings in the media, screening/filming opportunities, inside scoops and more. She’s been writing on the world of geekdom and pop culture since 2002 and is also considered to be one of the top Atlanta bloggers and influencers!

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Our head Geek Girl, Emma Loggins, updates daily on the latest entertainment news, TV news, movie news, inside scoops, travel guides and more. She’s been writing on the world of geekdom, travel, and pop culture since 2002 when she founded FanBolt!